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                                                              The Unknown Forest

The girl could feel a bad vibe in the dark, old, smelly forest but unfortunately for her it was the only way to survive and get away from the evil man! Camille, a young girl, found herself lost in an unknown forest. The reason it's called this is because it's a strange forest and it is not a popular place where people find themselves coming to. The forest reminded Camile so much about her past - it was dark, haunting, scary, and something a young girl like Camile should have never experienced. Camile lost her parents at the age of 1, she barely even spent time with them or maybe even remember their names. She was then sent to live with an old, tall, strange looking man that the government and officers and everyone who was close with Camille’s parents who was said to be her grandfather, but Camille suspected otherwise. Joseph, Camille's supposed  ‘grandfather’ was a smart, wise man who liked to live in his two story, old, wooden house. Joseph loved living in the dark, as in daylight he would lock himself inside his room and poor Camille had no choice but to do the same.

 At the age of 1 to 13, Camille was lonely, afraid, confused, and we could say that her whole childhood was just filled with sad memories. Camille wishes she had siblings, at least someone who would comfort her when she misses her parents, or someone who would take the time to ask her if she was okay, but I guess Camille had to stay strong and hope for the best. Joseph is one of a kind, and I say this because of his behaviour and attitude towards Camille, it's not a warm, loving,  grandfather but instead he was a mad man, he was always in an angry mood towards Camille, he had so much hatred towards her. 

One cloudy, cold afternoon, Camille was in her room when suddenly her bedroom door flew open, and there standing with an evil look and a knife in his hand was her grandpa. Camille quickly stood up and nervously walked back, she was so terrified. “ Grandpa are you okay” she asked while her heart was beating so fast like a drum. “ You, come here you little skunk” said Joseph with a rage tone in his voice. She was afraid that the only thing she could do was stand there and witness her grandpa being a physco. He started circling her, as soon as he was behind her, Camille had no choice but to run outside and get help. So she sprinted as fast as she could down the stairs with her psycho, evil grandfather chasing her. “ Come back here now!!” . Finally when her grandfather lost her, Camille was relieved but found herself stuck in the middle of the forest somehow, she felt lonely.

 “ Help” “ Help!!” She yelled as loud as she could. But unfortunately no one heard her. She was left on her own to survive, it wasn’t somewhere a 13 year old, kind hearted, sad little girl like Camille would have imagined to be. She sat under a huge, brown tree, she had to catch her breath after being chased by her grandfather. Nothing made sense to her anymore, at that moment she lost hope, she questioned herself, she even regretted being alive at the point. Camille tried looking for a way to get out, but that would have to be tomorrow because it was so dark. The next day Camille woke up sleeping in a forest, with trees nearly touching the sky, with dirty lakes, birds chirping, and insects crawling everywhere.  Camille walked for ages trying to find a way out, her legs were killing her. After hours of walking, she was exhausted. She gave up. Then suddenly she saw smoke rising from the air, she started walking towards that direction, as she got closer she could see streets, cars, buildings. She knew she was safe. 

 Describe at least one memorable idea in the text. Explain why this idea was memorable to you. 

Andy wanted people to see him as Andy himself not a royal

Everyone who came across him didn’t help him because they saw him as a royal not andy himself 

Sadness because he was just a teenager 

Memorable because it reminds me of how people get labelled in certain situations, they don’t see the person but the label - stereotype 

TAKO - Title, author, key points, outline ideas 

“ Help Help me please” cried a voice from the alley.   It was a cold night, Andy lay on the sidewalk of an alley bleeding. He screams in pain, but no one was there. He was only a teenager who wanted a pack of cigarettes, but little did he know he would get ambushed just because he was in a gang. On the sidewalk bleeding  is a short story by Evan Hunter, this story can relate to things I have seen in real life. 

Memorable idea in the text was how self-righteous people are. We can see this when an old drunk man was walking through the alley. When he  came into the alley drunk he saw Andy and one thought came into his mind was “well that's a drunk young man laying there”. He was drunk himself while Andy, who he thought was drunk, is in pain. He was talking to him (aka Andy)  in a drunk way. Andy couldn't say anything because he was just in pain and he can’t say anything while holding the pain. “You're gonna catch a cold there” and then he said ``You must be as drunk as I am”. And later on he said he was going to call the police but then he (the old man) misunderstood again and said “ohh you don't want the cop to find you all drunk” and “okay buddy this time you go off easy”. The author wants us to know that judging a person directly is what we should have done to ourselves before doing it to others. And to the readers it's not really making them take interest in the story, it's making them feel sad and it's really happening in reality.

Another memorable idea from the text was not to judge people based on their appearance. This was evident when a couple ran into the alley and later discovered Andy bleeding profusely on the pavement. My understanding was that you, me, us, and we all need to support those in need, not just think it's a horrible idea. The girl (a.k.a. Angela) was not a good role model for us, but it might happen in real life. During the book, there is a section where the girl (Angela) does something silly and says something stupid "Freddie, I'm ready to return home. My people will start to be concerned ""Freddie, let's get out of here!" she cried. Please!”. She clearly misunderstood that just because Andy was in "royal" didn't mean he was different. The author wants us to think about this.

The final reason this sticks with me is that it reminds me of how judgemental people can be when it comes to gender and identity. When the cop was judging Andy1, he discovered the word "royal" printed on his jacket when he came to investigate the event. Andy's friend was not pleased with the way the cop was speaking about him. "His name is Andy," she murmured quietly since she didn't want the cop to hear her, because the cop never uttered his name, instead saying "a royal huh." Notice how he made it plain that he doesn't think of him as Andy, but rather as a "royal." The author wants us to notice that even cops criticise you and can be judgemental, despite the fact that they are tasked with protecting people from harm.

The ability to rely on oneself is probably the most important aspect of who we are. If others judge us, despise us, and refuse to help us, we must love ourselves more than anything else. Helping ourselves to what we require and soothing ourselves when we feel we require it. What is the significance of this? Because no one is ever there to aid you through those difficult times that we all go through. From the time you were a child until now, there was someone who was always there for you, and that person was you. You show courage  alongside yourself. Don't entirely rely on others; try to do great things for yourself, not others, because they may not always be able to assist you with how you live your life. It is entirely up to you whether or not you are capable of doing so; no one else can do it for you.

Reflection Section

 Text Title : Suppression lifts on teen who stabbed policeman

Text Type : Stuff Article

Text Creator : David Clarkson

Text Purpose : To inform us with details of this article

Date : November 24 2021

Today for reflection section, I read an article on stuff about a 17 year old boy named Elijah Millet who has now turned 18. In this article it states that Elijah repeadetly stabbed a police officer during a family violence incident in March. It states that Elijah was "aiming for the head and upper torso". Since Elijah has turned 18 and the incident happened in Oxford, North Canterbury, a Youth court judge has decided to send this case to the District court to be dealt with. At court, he pleaded guilty on November 16, admitting charges of wounding, assault with a weapon, and threating to kill a police officer, this made Judge Stephen O'Driscoll decide name suppresion would be lifted. When someone has name suppression, it is unlawful for that persons name and details to be published about them in that case, but a judge's order is needed for the order to continue. Elijah millet is facing adult sentnce after stabbing a police officer, the documnet has also made clear about the danger and viloence involved in the incident. This incident happened when Elijah arrived at his family home to pick up his belongings, his dad called the poilce because he stated that Elijahs behaviour was escalating and he smashing items. Afte that a Police officer pulled up, and Elijah was confroting him, and also abused and threatened to kill the police officer. Elijahs behaviour got out of control, so the police officer used pepper spray, which did have some effect, but Elijah pulled out a knife and raised it over his head, once the officer knew he ran down the driveway, luckily a second police car arrived and drove between Elijah and the officer. Elijah has now has his attention on the poilce car, he ran to the car and sarted stabbing downwards through the police offers window, which was open, he states he was aiming for 'head and upper torso', the police offer put his hands up in self defense, the Elijah ran back to the house, bcause the effect of the pepper spray started settling in. He was then put in handcuffs and taken into custody. THe police officer suffered serious injuries, on the right forearm. Elijah Millet will be sentenced on December 10th 2021. 

Passion Project

 At the end of term 3, the year 10 & 11 students started making our passion projects. In our group, Daisy, Naumai and I decided to do braiding, we choose this because at first we all wanted to do Hair & Beauty, but we needed to buy a lot of eqipment for our beauty idea because it was make-up and it was probably gonna be over the budget, so as a group we all agreed to do braiding because we found some braiding tutorial videos on youtube and they were interesting. Mr Aitken suggested we make a tutroial as a group, an example for his daughter. Before we actually did braid, we had to make a slideshow as a group to show what days we are we gonna plan for our passion project and what days we are going to film our videos and anything else to be done. We started doing our braid tutorial video at the start of term 4. Braiding was a little diificult because there were different types of braiding, but I was glad I atleast knew how to braid one way, but it was a little fustrating and challneging learning how to braid another way. 

There were difficulties when we tried to get the app working, but it eventually worked. We all took turns helping to make our braiding tutorial video nice and presentable. The one thing I learned while doing this passion project is that, working with friends is very helpful because you can work well together and get the work done. I really enojyed this years passion project, I am very proud of my team member and myself. I will set out some simple instructions on how to french braid for begginers. 

1. Comb or brush hair before you start so it makes it easier to braid
2. Divide three section of hair at the front of head
3. Grab the right section of hair and cross it with the middle section, the do the same with left section
4. This time will back at crossing right section, add a fair amount of hair to right section and cross into middle
5. Repeat step 3 & 4
6. Make sure with your fingers just comb out any notty hair in the way
7. Make sure it is nice and tight
8. When finished braiding, get a hair tie and tie the end part of your hair
9. You can choose to hairspray so your braids will stay in for long 

There you go! Hope it was simple to follow

Reflection Section

 In Social studies last week and this week we have made our own prezi about Turangawaewae, meaning places that are important to you.

On my prezi I had 6 important places, they were my

1. Homeland 
2. Church
3. School
4. Home
5. Mall
6. Movies

The reason why all these places are important to me is because they are either my favourite places to go or they are part of my religion & beliefs and they are very important to me. My homeland is Samoa, and that is a important place because I was born there and life was very different there to right now. Because my family are christian, church is a big priority so we go church every sunday, and its a family expectaion to go. School is a place where I can hang with my friends, and learn something new everyday. Home is also important because its a safe evorinment for me and my family. The mall is my favourite important place, because I can have some time away from home with friends, and I get to buy things for myself and feel good and also have fun. My last important place is the movies, not only is it fun to watch new movies on a big screen, but its a relax time for me, I love eating popcorn while watching a movie. 

Yellow Brick Road

•  Where is he from? - Waiuhi, near Gisborne, New Zealand) 
• How many of his works have been adapted into films? - 5 
• What does " Yellow Brick Road" mean for you? - A brick road that is yellow
• How you ever heard this expression before? - Yes
• What do you predict this story will be about, based on the title?- About something to do with a pathway

1. Why does the narrator (speaker) believe they are moving to Wellington

 - To have a better life, because waituhi and wellington is a big difference, wellingtion has more oppportuinites while waithui you have to do labour work, but obviously the parents wants whats best for their children

( FOR THE MONEY)

2. On Page 1, what big difference between Waituhi and Wellington does the narrator mention?

- They will make lots of money and be rich as anything because Wellington is where the money is. And the son belives you obviously have to go where they money is, and there is no use in staying in Waituhi and being poor.  And lots more of pakeha there, makes him feel scared. 

3. On Page 3, we find out that Dad told Uncle Sam they were moving to Wellington because there are no more jobs back home, plenty of seasonal workers, but he and Hine had enough of that. 

( Fresh start & bring his kids up with a better life) 

4. How does the narrator's attitude towards moving change once they nearer to the city?

- He was happy at first but started to get nervous when they nearly got there.

5. Emerald City, Yellow Brick Road, Flying Monkeys, scarecrow, tinman and cowardly lion, are all illusions ( refrences ) to what famous book? Why do you think the author made this comparasion ?

- THE WIZARD OF OZ

- It has the same mening ( yellow brick road) of this specific scene

Stuff ( Reflection Section)

 “ Mother Who Laced Young Son’s Milk With Toxins Sentenced To 11 Months’            Home Detention”

Today in Wananga I read an article about a woman who did harm to her child while he was in hospital. In the article it states that before the women laced milk with a toxic liquid or powder she then gave it to her son. Her son was affected badly that he now has brain damage and he now has to be put in an induced coma. I think the sad part about this story is that she admitted about all these horrible things she did to her own child. And that child may die because of his own mother. But gladly she is now facing the consequences and is sentenced to 11 months home detention or probation. 

 

The Real One

 In english class we had to create a short film in a small group recreating the merchant of venice by Shakespare. Our group decided to recreate it but including catfish in our film. The characters in our fim are Sam, Jack, Amy & Liah. Our short film is about based on catfishing so we have Jack and Liah as our main characters, and Amy & Sa who will be the ones catfishing them, we as a group tried to be creative with this because it will make our film look interesting. For the filiming part of our film, Daisy our camera person porobably did 3 or more techniques because it looked really good and realistic. Acting was probably challenging because we had to keep a straight face even when we try to look professional infront of the camera, but we were glad we done it. I learnt alot from this film making and also learning something new about one of Shakespares plays. Something we could do differently next time is probably spend more time on our filming, because we didn't really finish our film but it still looks creative. 

Reflection Section

 Date : 10.06.21

Text : Simon Sinek on Millennials in the workplace 

Text Type : Interview on Youtube ( inside quest)

Purpose : To help understand millennials and improve wellbeing through reducing screen time

Today as a  class, we watched Simon Sinek talk about millennials in the workplace. In this video Simon explained how to help understand millennials and also to improve wellbeing by reducing screen time. He explained how millennials were so caught up in things that aren’t important because they are always on devices, but instead they could be innovative, and see the bigger things in life. He talked about some ways we could help reduce millennials from screen time. He said a lot of examples of how millennials could be so impatient, that sometimes if they want something, they want it now, and they also want their phones 24/7 because they have become addicted to social media or whatever is on the phone. Reason why he is talking about this topic is because, it could affect their wellbeing when older because they might be spending more time on social media and less time on school work, they could fail in classes and subjects which is not good for them. He talks about how your phone can be next to you, and even if you're so focused on something else, your phone can still distract you from what you're doing even if it’s important. But if you're not distracted by your phone, you can look around you and you feel like you can see the world revolving around you, you feel different.  This was a really good video to watch because I can relate to this topic, because I am also anti-social, and I feel weird without technology nowadays. But I believe that this topic is an important one for millennials especially because some don’t know the effects of always being distracted by technology and that they can’t see the bigger and important things around them. 

Reflection Section

 This week in textiles, we had started making a project using the techniques we learnt about and also tried out. The four techniques we did were screen printing, batik, tie dying and marbling. For my project I decided to make a scrunchie, because I already know how to make one, and a scrunchie is very useful for girls, so why not!. Our task was to go onto our textiles slides, and research methods and equipment for scrunchie, then write them down on the slides. We had to make sure we had enough details about our method so those who don’t know how to make scrunchies can have a better idea on how to make one, and it would be easier. I choose to use the marbling technique for my project because I feel it's an easier technique, and I love using shaving foam, and then adding dye, it feels so satisfying. So after writing down all the equipment and the method on the slides, I am now ready to start making my project next week! 

Trashing our planet

people need to know that the rubbish that goes into the ocean can kill many sea animals and it can be a pandemic problem. It can also affect us. I think that people should learn to throw their own rubbish in the bin, and there should be consequences if they can't do that. 

Vietnam War

Song title : Edwin Starr - War ( what is it good for?) 

Lyrics

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, why'all

War, huh, good god
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

Oh, war, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives

War means tears to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh good god, why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing say it again

War, whoa, lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

it ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) friend only to the undertaker
Oh, war it's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die, ah, war-huh, good god why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing listen to me

it ain't nothing but a heart breaker
(War) it's got one friend that's the undertaker
Oh, war, has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Oh, war, huh good god why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing say it again

whoa, lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing listen to me

it ain't nothing but a heart breaker
(War) friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But lord knows there's got to be a better way

Oh, war, huh good god why'all
What is it good for you tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

huh good god why'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it nothing

Message : 

Live Aid

Bob Geldof -  Robert Fredrick Zennon Geldof KBE, is an Irish singer-writer and political activist. On July the 13th 1985, Geldof and Ure organised Live Aid, a huge event staged simultaneously at the Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy stadium in Philadelphia. 

Midge Ure - James Ure OBE is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter and producer. Before Midge became famous, he worked as an engineer after graduating Technical College. He was in many different bands, including Salvation in 1972, The Rich Kids in 1977, Visage in 1978, Thin Lizzy in 1979, and Ultravox in 1979. 

Midge Ure & Bob Geldof

Making Salts

 Aim: To produce sodium chloride salt by carrying out a neutralisation reaction.

Equipment: 50 mL and 200 mL beakers, dilute HCI ( hydrochloric acid) , dilute NaOH ( sodium hydroxide) , 25 mL measuring cylinder, a glass stirring rod, spotting tile, Universal indicator solution, tripod, gauze mat, Bunsen burner , evaporating basin. 

                1 : Using the measuring cylinder measure 10 mL of HCI and pour it into your 50 mL beaker. 

2 : Every 10-15 drops stop adding the NaOH and use the glass stirring rod to transfer a drop of the sulfate to a spotting tile. Test its pH using Universal indicator.

3 : Keep adding NaOH and testing the solution by repeating step 2. As you get closer to neutral you may need to test the solution after every drop. 

4 : Pour the neutral solution into an evaporating basin and evaporate the water out of the solution using the equipment set up shown above. 

Beatles

 Perspective FOR

-  The perspective for the people who was for the beatles tour in NZ 1964, who were the youth girls of New Zealand. This was because the beatles songs were basically about love, rock n roll , and sometimes marriage including sexual lyrics, which the youth girls back then became obssessed with.  It was said to be that when the beatles arrived in wellington, their faces were pressed hard against wire fences, screaming themselves hoarse as they caught a glimpse of their musical idols. Youth girls started changing, meaning they started chagning the way they dressed, but dressed inapropritely. 

Perspective AGAINST

- The people who were against the beatles tour were the older generation because they believed it was a bad influence on the youth girls, this was because of the beatles songs how it was all about love and their music was basically inappropriate and the parents of these young youth girls were very worried and concerened about this matter. Parents believed that by the girls being obssessed with the beatles and their music was a sin, meaning they are doing the worng thing and meaning they would eventually go to hell. But a lot of them were against it because of their religion, they saw the the beatles were turing them, changing them and causing them to sin. Older generation even protested, saying " Jesus loves you, do the beatles"? they did this because they never had this happen when growing up, and they genuinley believed the youth girls were sinning. 

The narritive

 Creative Writing

-  Within seconds it erupted like a volcano, she could feel the heat blowing in her face from far away, a million thoughts running through her mind. 

-  She couldn't help herself but think about what was happening, it was getting dark, having no choice but to see someone walk away from her, her heart dropped and tears started pouring down her face

- They were running at the highest speed their legs had ever carried them, as they were running they keep looking back to see danger coming after them, that was the only way to survive

- Girl was shaking with fear as she she opened the bag and stuffed food in it, looking around to make sure no one was there, still shaking she managed to escape 

- his whole world shattered, knowing he would never see that place anymore, with regret on his mind he walked out carrying his belonging

Reflection Section

Text Title: WITI IHIMAERA

Text Type: short story

Text Creator: Witi Ihimaera

Text Purpose: To entertain and to inform the reader of what's happening in the story

Date: 26th February 2021

This is a story about how people love the reef and how they saw the seahorse. It was a story about a family who lived near the reef that was just outside town. This was where all their relatives and friends went every weekend in summer to dive for kai moana. They obviously loved kai moana and were lucky that the reef was the home of much kai moana - paua, pipi, kina, mussels and many other shellfish. How they cared for the sea animals. When they felt guilty that they poisoned the land and now they feed their poison in the sea water and by doing that they have lost their aroha for the sea. When they realize what they are doing is wrong they feel bad about what they have done to the sea. They apologize to the sea that “We have been unkind to you”.  So this whole short story is basically how the family love and care about the sea because it’s home to them.

Parihaka

Link to song

 What is the main message of this song

- Way to remember and also to make people aware of what happened at parihaka and how it still affects people today

What line explains their passive resistance method?

- His children's children wearing the white plume,

So take me for the sins of these sad islands

What does “ you can’t pull out the roots “  refer to?

- Means whatever happens to them, for example them getting locked up by the British people, they will never forget their roots, meaning they won’t forget where they came from, their ethnicity and their culture

Give evidence of their determination

• Rise up, defend yourself, never give in

How does this song show the significance of parihaka?

- Shows how many people are affected by what happened today even though it happened years ago.

What makes an event significant?

- Remember, it includes those that resulted in great change over long periods of time for large numbers of people.

How many people are affected?

- Everyone that was lived back then and their families members that live now

How long were people affected?

People are still affected by what happened years ago and they will continue to be affected by this for years

To what extent are people affected?

- Mentally and emotionally and spiritually 

Language Features

 

Music through time

 Slavery In America was so unbearable and intolerable, that the slaves slave would use music to communicate with each other and also to help them escape.  One song that they used to escape was called " wade in the water". During slavery In America there was a women named Harriet Tubman who was a slave herself, but she managed to escape, once she escaped she kept coming back to the southern states to help others escape from being brutally tortured as a slave. Harriet managed to free 300 slaves. By helping the slaves escape Harriet would lead them into the underground railroad which was not actually a railroad. Harriet used the song " wade in the water" to tell escaping slaves to get off the trail and into the water to make sure the dogs employed by the slavers lost their trail, so basically to prevent them from sniffing the slaves scent. " God's gonna trouble the water" means to agitate ( shake ) the water. 

( Link to the song ) 

Cyberbullying

 Cyberbullying is a global issue these days, especially kids aged 12-17. 

Facts about cyberbullying 

- Nearly %42 of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once

- Four out of 10 middle schools have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them

Cyberbullying is a disturbing and not safe reality that children and teens deal with everyday. Cyberbullying is when someone uses electrons or a device to bully someone online. This usually happens through messages that are intimating and threatening which makes the victim threatened and scared then can lead to the victim being depressed or could even lead to something much more worse.